Railfan & Railroad editor Steve Barry joins us for the April meeting. He will present his journey in railroad night photography - from group night sessions with Jim Boyd to synchronized flash.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Just a Short Line: Anecdotes & Other Tales

The Story the Rahway Valley Railroad

Presented by Richard J. King

The Rahway Valley Railroad was a colorful short line that operated in northern New Jersey for much of the last century. For the past several years, author and historian (and Tri-State President) Richie King has been researching and collecting everything he can about this little railroad. In an effort to share what has been found, Tri-State is hosting occasional programs on the Rahway Valley Railroad as part of the Just a Short Line series.

In this program, King will share the more amusing side of the Rahway Valley through the laughable anecdotes, harrowing tales, and sardonic letters he has collected. You’ll learn about the lazy conductor, the kids of the railroad, the tale of the engineer’s ill-fated pie, the firebug, calamities with cars, and much more. You’ll be sure to let out a laugh, or two.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Down The Line With Dr. Lenny Part 1: New Jersey's Transformational Years
Presented by Michael L. Kaplonski, Esq.

Dr. Leonard Kaplonski was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1948.  Growing up near the PRR Main Line, he developed a lifelong interest in trains, and particularly in photographing what was around him.  After leaving New Jersey to pursue a medical degree, he arrived back on the scene in 1976 to capture one of the most significant changes in the railroad industry to date - the creation of Conrail.  Between the formation of Amtrak and the creation of Conrail, the rails of the entire northeastern United States would be forever altered - a process of mergers, rationalizations, and reductions that continues through the present day was set in motion.  The once incredibly colorful diversity of New Jersey's keystones, statues, and diamonds gave way to blue, and then a mix of platinum mist, black, white, blue and gold.  With so many notable milestones having occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s, this presentation will be a fun look back at the infancy of today's railroad scene.

Join us as we take a walk down the line with Dr. Lenny and revisit many familiar locations, seeing what was, and what was about to disappear - all with the benefit of now having seen what was to become.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

New Jersey’s Up-and-Coming Rail Photographers
Presented by Russell Sullivan, Rob Amoia, and Duncan Mara

For decades, New Jersey has played host to a myriad of photographers, who have a passion for the railroads that crisscross the state. Those names have included Carstens, Collins, Furler, Krause, Mainey, and many more. Today, a new generation is taking up the torch. They’re dedicated and ambitious in their pursuits of capturing New Jersey’s railroad happenings through their lenses. Tri-State will host two of New Jersey’s Up-and-Coming Rail Photographers, who will show off some of their best work from the past year and beyond:

Rob Amoia is 18-years-old and hails from Bergen County. He’s currently studying engineering at Rutgers University in Newark. Amoia has been into trains since the earliest days of his youth. He’ll be showcasing his photography from 2023, some taken a few minutes away from his house to as far aways as a three-hour flight. Between passenger and freight, old and new, he shoots it all and is eager to share his favorites from 2023.

Duncan Mara is a 22 year-old North Jersey resident who's been photographing trains for nearly a decade. Growing up along the NYS&W Railway in Passaic County, Mara grew passionate about railroads from an early age and started photographing them soon after. While most of his favorite photographs from 2023 were generally taken around the Tri-State area, a few images from a trip to the West Coast will also make an appearance. 

Russell Sullivan is a 25-year-old New Jersey resident who has been photographing the New Jersey rail scene for the past 10 years. Growing up in Bergen County and spending summers at the Jersey Shore, Sullivan has a passion for photographing the often-overlooked industrial rail scenes that bridge these two areas. Russell will share his favorite photographs captured in 2023 from the Garden State.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

The Erie’s Orange Branch
Presented by Bill McKelvey

The December meeting will feature a look at the Erie Railroad’s Orange Branch, part of the Erie’s New York & Greenwood Lake Division. Presenter Bill McKelvey grew up along the Orange Branch and will provide us with a unique perspective of this unique rail line’s history and operations, including during the days of the Erie, E-L, and Conrail. McKelvey is the Chairman of the Liberty Historic Railway, which has funded numerous transportation related preservation projects throughout the State of New Jersey, including M&E 19 and HMRC 700.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow on the Lehigh & Hudson River Railway
Presented by Alan Held

The November meeting will feature a presentation by Warwick, NY native and current Trainmaster, Alan Held, on the long and storied history of the L&HR. Mr. Held will discuss early history, operations, and motive power, as well as current operations on the former bridge line. Located in picturesque Warren, Sussex, and Orange Counties, the Lehigh & Hudson River was a Class I carrier with major haulage, yet the feel of a home-town railroad. This presentation will feature rare images from the L&HR archives as well as never before seen maps. Whether you are new to the L&HR or you have some familiarity, there is something for everyone in this in-depth look at a lesser-known fallen flag.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

The Kid From Freeville
Growing up on the Railroad
Presented by Dan Armitage, with Peter Bellisario

Danny Armitage grew up in Freeville, NY where two branches of the Lehigh Valley Railroad crossed. From the age of 5 he hung out at the freight station behind his house getting to know all of the trainmen. This led to an unusual childhood of literally growing up on the railroad. From 1963 until the mid-1980s he rode the locomotives and cabooses over 400 times and was accepted by the crews as one of their own. For 26 years, Dan resided in the Ovid area and worked for 30 years at the Willard Psychiatric Center and Willard Drug Treatment Center. This afforded him time to study both the Willard Asylum and US Army Depot railroads. Dan now resides in Marathon, NY, with his wife Joan Portzline. His program of lecture and slides is titled: The Kid from Freeville: Growing up on the Railroad and has been presented all over central NY, covering the people and operations of the Lehigh Valley Railroad from a very unique perspective.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Railroad Museum [for a day] 2023!

Railroad Museum [for a day] is hosted by the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, owners of the largest and most historic railroad collection in New Jersey. During the once-a-year event, the URHS Restoration Facility in Boonton, NJ will become New Jersey's largest railroad museum. Museum [for a day] provides a rare, family-friendly opportunity to admire, explore, and go inside of our historic trains and learn about their connection to the region we live in. 

New this year! The newly restored Erie Lackawanna 3372 will be on display for the very first time. Also see and go inside the newest piece in the collection: NJ Transit ALP-44 No. 4424!

Tri-State's Morristown & Erie 19, Hoboken Shore 700, and several of our cabooses will be on display and open for tours!

More information is available at www.urhs.org.

EVENT DETAILS:

When - Sunday, September 24, 2023, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Where - 104 Morris Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005
Admission Prices -

• Adults (age 12+) - $5.00

• Children (ages 3-11) - $3.00

ACTIVITIES:

• Discover and explore over a dozen pieces of restored historic railroad equipment from New Jersey, inside and out

• Visit vintage cars, trucks, buses, and military vehicles

• Enjoy live music

• Meet and talk to railroaders and railroad preservationists

• Learn about railroad historical preservation efforts in New Jersey

• Visit the Boonton Day street fair, just up the road

PARKING:

Event parking is available at the Upper Plane Street municipal lot (click here for directions). This lot is located directly adjacent to the Boonton Day street fair on Main Street, and a free shuttle bus will be available to take you to Museum [for a day].

CNJ Night at Tri-State
Presented by Frank Reilly

For the September meeting, we are joined by long-time a long-time Tri-Stater, Frank Reilly. He worked for the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and will take us on a tour from the Jersey City roundhouse to the coal mines of Pennsylvania, and everything in-between.

Frank started working for the CNJ in early 1966 and as a railfan he always had his camera with him.  He even convinced management to let him create a Know Your CNJ slide show in 1969 to familiarize new managers coming over from the B&O. He got two weeks to produce this show as well as unlimited slide film and support from officials throughout the CNJ.  Frank also had his pass embossed with the words, “Good on any train or engine” and he made good use of it, which included being in a train wreck!  Don’t miss this rare and exciting show that includes train wrecks, being held up at knife point in the Garwood station, etc.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

ABOUT THE TOUR:

• The Tri-State Railway Historical Society has secured a private tour of Lake Hopatcong, highlighting all the historical railroad (DL&W, CNJ, and more) sites along the shoreline, aboard the Miss Lotta.

• The cruise will feature live narration by Marty Kane of the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum.

• Ticket includes a buffet dinner served aboard the Miss Lotta. A cash bar is available. The ticket price excludes gratuities.

• Date & Time: September 7, 2023, departing at 6:30 PM. We ask that all attendees arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to departure. The tour will last approximately two hours.

• Trip Coordinator: Leon Moreau, ljmoreau4@yahoo.com

• Availability: Tickets limited to 45 attendees.

• Pricing: $49

INFORMATION FOR ATTENDEES:

• Transportation: Attendees are expected to arrange their own transportation to and from Nolan’s Point.

• Meeting Location: Dock at Nolan’s Point, 37 Nolan’s Point Park Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849.

• Parking: Attendees must park across the street from the dock, in the parking lot beneath the solar panels.

• More Information: For Miss Lotta related questions please visit: https://www.lhcruises.com/faq

Tickets must be purchased through Tri-State’s ticket vendor, FareHarbor. Attendees must have a printed copy of their confirmation, or show a copy on their phone, to board.

Gray, Maroon, and Yellow: A Heritage Unit and Creating a DL&W F3
Presented by Mike Del Vecchio

The June 8th meeting will feature a presentation by past president Mike Del Vecchio. He chose a couple of repaints and restorations near and dear to the club. First will be NS 1700, repainted in its original as-delivered livery as part of Norfolk Southern's 30th Anniversary festivities. The 1700 would appear daily at Bayway where Del Vecchio could take many pictures of it. Next is a presentation about Tri-State's F3 in Scranton, "Lackawanna 663." It arrived in Scranton in 2009 looking like the scrap yard was next, but a team of more than 50 Tri-Staters and hundreds of financial contributors restored it to where today it is a national treasure and part of the oldest, unaltered and operating set of F-units in the world. Join us to see this world-class effort that created what TRAINS Magazine's readers in 2013 voted as "Must See Diesels."

Note: The original program scheduled, Building Route 280, had to be postponed due to the presenter's illness. We will work to schedule it for the fall.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Susie-Q and L&HR
Presented by Tom Nemeth

For our May meeting, we will be joined by prolific photographer and Railpace editor Tom Nemeth. He will give us an interesting look at the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad and Lehigh & Hudson River Railway in the 1960s and 1970s.

The NYS&W was a struggling New Jersey railroad that had retreated to Butler, NJ in 1971 and declared bankruptcy in 1976. We’ll take a look at Susie-Q’s operations with a fleet of aging Alcos and its yellow-jacket EMD GP-18s.

The L&HR was a bridge route operating between Allentown, PA and Maybrook, NJ, operated with a fleet of Alco C420s and RS-3s. We’ll take a look at the L&HR’s operations before it was assimilated into Conrail.

We’re all looking forward to this look at two fan-favorite railroads that operated across northern New Jersey.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

In an age before jets, air conditioning and super highways, Lake Hopatcong was a major northeast resort.  Within easy reach of large cities to the east, the lake’s size and setting at over 900 feet above sea level made it a perfect summer destination.  Boasting over 40 hotels, two amusement parks, and all types of entertainment, Lake Hopatcong welcomed thousands each year, including leaders in government, industry and entertainment.  Lake Hopatcong’s rise as a resort was the result of two major railroads serving and promoting the lake.  This program will look at the Central Railroad of New Jersey’s opening of rail service to the Nolan’s Point section of Lake Hopatcong in 1882 and the Lackawanna Railroad efforts to compete by having their trains connect to waiting steamboats which took passengers directly to their Lake Hopatcong destination through the Morris Canal.  It will also look at how rail service play a major role in the ice, iron, and explosives industries at the lake.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Just a Short Line: TOUR THE RAILROAD

The Story the Rahway Valley Railroad

The Rahway Valley Railroad was a colorful short line that operated in northern New Jersey for much of the last century. For the past several years, author and historian (and Tri-State President) Richie King has been researching and collecting everything he can about this little railroad. In an effort to share what has been found, Tri-State will host occasional programs on the Rahway Valley Railroad in addition to the regularly scheduled monthly meetings.

In this program, King takes you on a tour of the railroad in the 1940s and 50s. The RV was a bustling little freight operation back then. In this presentation, you’ll take a ride along the RV’s 11.8-mile-long streak of rust, including the mainline, three branches, and three interchanges.

The presentation begins on Zoom at 7:30 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Note: This is not the regular monthly membership meeting. This is a virtual only presentation.

Steve Barry will present some of his favorite photos of 2022. Main line steam, vanishing Class I railroads, and modern and historic transit will all be a part of the diverse year. From the return of Chesapeake & Ohio 1309 to the final year of Kansas City Southern, 2022 was quite a year! 

UPDATE (3/9/2023)! ROOM CHANGE! For In-Person Attendees: Our March 9, 2023 meeting will be held in the Flexible Meeting Rooms located on the lower level of the Annunciation Center at Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ.

The Annunciation Center is located in the same parking lot as Rainis Auditorium. Please look for event signs to direct you to the proper location.

For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Rails from the Air

Presented by Jon Berkemeyer

Join us on Thursday, February 9th for a presentation of unique aerial railroad photography by drone photographer Jon Berkemeyer. He will be showcasing some of his favorite images that he has captured from his camera drone over the last five years. Featuring abandoned structures, hard to reach locations along with well worn railfan haunts captured in a whole new light, this is railfanning across New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania in all three dimensions.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

RAILROADIANA SALE

Saturday, February 4, 2023 - 12 to 5 pm

Townley Presbyterian Church
829 Salem Road, Union, NJ 07083

The Tri-State Railway Historical Society will be hosting a Railroadiana Sale in Union, NJ on Saturday, February 4, 2023. The sale will open at 12:00 PM and run until 5:00 PM. ADMISSION IS FREE! Available for purchase will be:

• Lanterns

• Maps

• Railroad Books

• Railroad Photography & Prints

• Scale Model Trains & Buildings (various scales)

• …and more!

Items are being sold by the Tri-State Railway Historical Society and United Railroad Historical Society of NJ. Items were donated by the estates of long-time collectors. Proceeds from the sale help benefit the furtherance of Tri-State and URHS’s respective missions of preserving railroad history and equipment.

For more information, please contact Richie King at richie@tristaterail.org.

Railroads of Picatinny Arsenal

Presented by Jason HuggAN and Jeff Ranu

U.S. Army Picatinny Arsenal is located in the Highlands of northwestern Morris County. Picatinny is situated on approximately 5,853 acres and stretches northwards from Rt 15 towards Green Pond. The Arsenal specializes in the research, development, acquisition and lifecycle of advanced conventional weapon systems and ammunition. The Cultural Resources Program (CRP) located in the Environmental Affairs Division of the Directorate of Public Works manages the historic structures, buildings, districts, and archaeological sites located across the Arsenal.

This presentation demonstrates a historical background of Picatinny Arsenal’s Railroads that were used to transport ammunition, equipment, and personnel across the installation, along with the Wharton & Northern Railroad, which was installed starting in 1887 with a 99-year lease. At one time, Picatinny had over 42 miles of railroads across the installation.

Jason Huggan was the former Cultural Resource Manager (CRM) for Picatinny Arsenal from 2007 to 2020. Starting in April 2020, Huggan accepted a promotion to Environmental Affairs Division Chief within the Directorate of Public Works. He has been with Picatinny for over 15yrs and prior to this held a similar position at Fort Lee, VA and Fort Irwin, CA as CRM. Huggan has a Master’s degree in Archaeology and Heritage from the University of Leicester, UK and has worked in over 15 states across the continental U.S. with over 19yrs of experience in cultural resource management. Huggan is also a Registered Professional Archaeologist.

Jeff Ranu became the DEVCOM-Armaments Center Historian in 2017, when it was still ARDEC, upon retirement of the renowned Arsenal Historian Dr. Patrick Owens. He has also served as an engineer at the installation for 23yrs. Ranu’s credentials include Masters Degrees in both Engineering and History. Duties as the Historian include researching technical historical information about ammunition and weapon systems for Army engineers, and supporting current programs and field maintenance. He also maintains the Picatinny Historical Archive, which contains documentation dating back to 1880 and conducts oral history interviews on a variety of topics from Picatinny Arsenal.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Just A SHORT LINE: LOCOMOTIVES & EQUIPMENT

THE STORY OF THE RAHWAY VALLEY RAILROAD

The Rahway Valley Railroad was a colorful short line that operated in northern New Jersey for much of the last century. For the past several years, author and historian (and Tri-State President) Richie King has been researching and collecting everything he can about this little railroad. In an effort to share what has been found, Tri-State will host occasional programs on the Rahway Valley Railroad in addition to the regularly scheduled monthly meetings.

In this program, King will be joined by Jeff Jargosch, a longtime Rahway Valley fan and steam locomotive aficionado, and Walt Switz, a retired railroader and former Rahway Valley employee, for a look at the railroad’s locomotives and equipment. The show will cover the earliest locomotives and their histories. With Jeff, we’ll take a detailed look at the last three steam engines, Nos. 13, 14, and 15, what is was like to operate them, their differences, and idiosyncrasies. With Walt, we’ll cover what it was like to work with the 70-tonners in daily freight service. We’ll even cover the railroad’s lone caboose, the 102, and more.

The presentation begins on Zoom at 7:30 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Note: This is not the regular monthly membership meeting.

Tri-State’s First President

An Evening with Mike Wikman

Our December 8th meeting will feature a digital visit from Tri-State first president, Mike Wikman. Now aged 88, he had hired out on the Lackawanna in 1955 as a towerman and soon landed in engine service. From there, his railroad career went to the EL, CNJ, Amtrak and a host of shortlines as either a manager or consultant. In 1979 he was the engineer on the Amtrak train that traversed the Cut-off from Port Morris to Scranton. He, Ray Storey and Tom Taber the elder helped form Tri-State in 1964. Mike has been everywhere and has a vivid memory, and he carried a camera. We're in for a treat, and a reunion. Today he lives in San Antonio.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Just a Short Line: Best Photo Finds

The Story the Rahway Valley Railroad

The Rahway Valley Railroad was a colorful short line that operated in northern New Jersey for much of the last century. For the past several years, author and historian (and Tri-State President) Richie King has been researching and collecting everything he can about this little railroad. In an effort to share what has been found, Tri-State will host occasional programs on the Rahway Valley Railroad in addition to the regularly scheduled monthly meetings.

In this program, King will share some of the best photography of the Rahway Valley he has come across in his searching. "The “best” photos are rare finds, high quality, or just photos with a good story behind them. There will be early color (both steam and diesels), photos from well-known photographers and railfans, and lots of good stories.

The presentation begins on Zoom at 7:30 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Note: This is not the regular monthly membership meeting.

Rise & Fall of the Raritan River

Presented by Tom Reynolds

For the November show, Tom Reynolds returns to continue his history of New Jersey’s Raritan River Rail Road. The story picks up the railroad’s peak freight tonnages in World War I, its lean years during the Great Depression, and proceeds through boom times during the war effort years of World War II. The history will be rounded out by the railroad’s last three decades as a vibrant short line and its eventual assimilation into Conrail in 1980.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

The Lackawanna Cutoff

Presented by Chuck Walsh and Keith Smollin

At its peak, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad described itself as “mile for mile, the most highly developed in the world.” The Lackawanna had entered the 20th century with the goal of becoming a super railroad, giving its president, William H. Truesdale, a mandate to make it so. The crowning achievement of this period of incredible period of capital improvement was the Lackawanna Cutoff, a 28-mile section of 70 MPH railroad of monumental viaducts, cuts, and fills.

For the October meeting, we are joined by Chuck Walsh and Keith Smollin who will give an overview of the Cutoff’s history, including its construction between 1908 and 1911. They will also discuss the current efforts and developments in reactivating the Cutoff for commuter service.

Chuck Walsh first became fascinated with the Lackawanna as a kid growing up next to the Morris & Essex in South Orange, NJ, being able to watch trains like the Phoebe Snow.. Chuck joined the North Jersey Rail Commuter Association in 1985, a group which helped spearhead the effort for the State of New Jersey to acquire the Cutoff in 2001. Chuck was a founding member of the Penn-Jersey Rail Coalition and, later, the Lackawanna Cutoff Historical Committee. Chuck and his daughter, Larissa, who is a videographer (who has made a couple of very brief cameo appearances), started the Lackawanna Cutoff channel on YouTube in 2016 and have thus far produced over 50 videos related to the Cutoff.

Keith Smollin has been a lifelong railfan and has been associated with the Maywood Station Museum along the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad since its inception in 2001. Keith holds a BA in History from William Paterson University and teaches History and English in Union City, NJ. Keith is a founding member of the Lackawanna Cutoff Historical Committee, founded in 2013 to preserve the Greendell station.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Railroad Museum [for a day] returns!

Railroad Museum [for a day] is hosted by the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, owners of the largest and most historic railroad collection in New Jersey. During the once-a-year event, the URHS Restoration Facility in Boonton, NJ will become New Jersey's largest railroad museum. Museum [for a day] provides a rare, family-friendly opportunity to admire, explore, and go inside of our historic trains and learn about their connection to the region we live in. 

Tri-State's Morristown & Erie 19, Hoboken Shore 700, and several of our cabooses will be on display and open for tours!

More information is available at www.urhs.org.

EVENT DETAILS:

When - Sunday, September 25, 2022, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Where - 104 Morris Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005
Admission Prices -

• Adults (age 12+) - $5.00

• Children (ages 3-11) - $3.00

ACTIVITIES:

• Discover and explore over a dozen pieces of restored historic railroad equipment from New Jersey, inside and out

• Visit vintage cars, trucks, buses, and military vehicles

• Enjoy live music

• Meet and talk to railroaders and railroad preservationists

• Learn about railroad historical preservation efforts in New Jersey

• Visit the Boonton Day street fair, just up the road

PARKING:

Event parking is available at the Upper Plane Street municipal lot (click here for directions). This lot is located directly adjacent to the Boonton Day street fair on Main Street, and a free shuttle bus will be available to take you to Museum [for a day].